Automatic brake holding system



Feb. 20, 1962 E. E. PRATHER AUToAAATTc BRAKE HOLDING SYSTEM original Filed oci. 25, 1957 n m W Af. QWQNQ N n kvwqnuuu w pn W h@ f \||l h i QQ wm@ A i m Q k v u@ f 7 m NS Nm. N wm N\\ Q MM n mw o AU. l A l1 H A d Ai. ci n u i T A T N Q wwmm l i mw TQ@ x n N N w Tm m u i\\ N c Q w\ O QM.

AUTGMA'HC BRAKE HLDWG SYSTEM Edwin E. Prather, South Eend, ind., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original appiieation st. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 691,877, now Patent No. 2,973,844, dated Mar. 7, 1961. Divided and this application Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,263

S Claims. (Cl. 121-41) The present invention relates to servomotors of a type having a control member whose actuating movement is opposed by reaction means; and more particularly to a pneumatically powered servomotor having control valve means mounted on its pressure actuated element and in which means are provided to oppose actuating movement of the control member by an amount generally proportional to the force being delivered by the servomotor. The present application is a division of my copending application 691,877 tiled October 23, 1957, now Patent No. 2,973,844.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved servomotor having a control member whose actuating movement is opposed by means providing a reaction generally proportional to the force being delivered by the servomotor, and further comprising means which under certain control conditions biases the control member in an actuating direction by a generally predetermined force that is opposed by the reaction means to cause the servomotor to be actuated to provide a generally predetermined output force.

A more specific object of the present invention is the rovision of a new and improved pneumatic powered fluid pressure servomotor of a type having control valve means mounted directly on the servomotors pressure actuated element, and further comprising means mounted on the pressure actuated element and which can be caused to actuate the control member with a generally predetermined iorce that is opposed by the servomotors reaction means to cause the servomotor to be actuated at a generally predetermined level of energization.

A still more speciiic object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved servomotor of the above mentioned type for the actuation of the braking system of an automotive vehicle having a governor switch and a throttle controlled switch which will cause the servomotor to actuate the braking system with a generally predetermined force when the throttle is closed and the vehicle is traveling below a predetermined speed to provide what is commonly called no creep.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved no creep braking system for an automotive vehicle, and/or a servomotor of a type to be used therein, which is simple and rugged in construction, reliable and efficient in its operation, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be present to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

Although the invention may be embodied in other types of servomotors, it is herein shown and described as embodied in a pneumatic powered fluid pressure servomotor of the type used to actuate the hydraulic braking system of an automotive vehicle. The drawing is a schematic view of an automotive braking system in which a servo,- motor embodying principles of the present invention is shown in section. The servomotor A shown is of the atmospheric submerged type which is energized or actu- I 3,02L82l Patented Feb. 20, w62

ated when vacuum from the vehicles engine is admitted to the servomotor. The servomotor A generally comprises a pressure responsive movable wall or piston B which is mounted in a power chamber or cylinder C, and which is adapted to actuate a driven or fluid displacement member D which projects into a hydraulic cylinder E suitably aixed to one end of the power cylinder C. Actuation of the unit is regulated by a control valve F having a movable control member G, which is adapted to be positioned by a push rod H connected to the foot pedal lever J of the vehicle. The control valve F and control member G are so constructed and arranged that manual force on the control member G will be transmitted directly to the driven member D during power failure of the servomotor.

The internal chamber 10 of the cylinder C is divided into inner and outer opposing chambers, 12 and 14 respectively, by the pressure responsive movable wall or piston B which carries suitable sealing means 16 on its radially outer edges for providing a seal with respect to the sidewalls of the internal chamber 10. The power piston B is formed by means of front 1S and rear 20 diecast sections suitably bolted together to provide an internal reaction chamber 22 which in turn is divided into front and rear opposing reaction chambers 24 and 26 respectively by a diaphragm 28, the outer edges of which are clamped between the die cast sections 18 and 20.

The control valve F is formed in an axially rearwardly extending boss 3i) in the rear die cast section 20 by means of a brass sleeve 32 pressed into the boss, and the movable control member G which is slidably received within the sleeve 32 to form a slide valve structure. A control port or opening 34 is provided in the sleeve 32 to communicate the inside of the sleeve 32 with the outer opposing chamber 26, from which the control pressure is continually communicated with the forward opposing chamber 12 of the servomotor by means of a suitable passage 36 in the power piston B.

The control member G is constructed and arranged to control communication oi the control port 34 with atmospheric or vacuum pressures and thereby control the pressure within the inner opposing chamber 12. The outer surface oi the cylindrically shaped control member G is provided with front and rear annular recesses 38 and 40 respectively which are separated by means of a land por tion 42 which has a generally sliding sealing t with respect to the inner walls of the sleeve 32. The movable control member G is drilled axially at 44 from its outer or rearwardly positioned end to provide communication with a transverse drilling 46, which intersects the front annular recess 38 and provides continuous atmospheric communication therewith. A transverse drilling 48 is provided through the boss 30 and sleeve 32 to at all times provide vacuum communication with the rear annular recess 40 of the movable control member G. Vacuum from the manifold of the propelling engine of the vehicle is supplied to the transverse drilling 4S by means of a vacuum conduit 5t) having rst and second rigid portions connected with the boss 30 and sidewalls of the cylinder C respectively, and having an intermediate flexible portion formed by means of a section of rubber hose 52. Atmospheric pressure is continually supplied to the rear opposing chamber 14 through the connection 54. A rubber dirt seal or boot 56 is provided between the rear cover plate 58 and the push rod H; and atmospheric pressure from the rear opposing chamber 14 is continually communicated to the inside of the rubber boot 56, and hence around the outer end of the boss 30 to the rearwardly positioned end of the control member G. A rubber coated abutment washer 60 is provided on the boss 30 for engagement with the rear cover plate apaiser S8 during the deenergized condition of the servomotor, in which position its power piston B is fully retracted. Atmospheric pressure is transmitted thereacross in this position by means of a suitable passage 62 in the boss 30.

A return stop is provided for the movable control member G by means of an annular nonmetallic washer 64 heldin a recess in the rear end of the boss 30 by means oa snap ring 66 at such a position as to Contact a shoulder 68 on the control member G as provided by means of an outer reduced diameter section 70 of the control member G. In the position shown in the drawing, wherein the control member G is lin engagement with the nonmetallicwasher 64, the land portion 42 of the control member will be positioned just rearwardly from the control port 34, such that atmospheric pressure will be communicated to both the rear opposing reaction chamber 26 and the forward opposing chamber 12. Atmospheric pressure is, therefore, communicated to both sides of the power piston B, and the power piston B will be held in its deenergized or retracted position, previously described, Vby means of a coil spring 72 in the hydraulic cylinder E.

Actuat-ion of the servomotor is obtained by moving the control member G forwardly or inwardly `to move the land `portion 42 past the outer edge of the control port 34, and thereby `communicate vacuum from the rear annular recess 40 with the rear opposing reaction chamber 26 and forward opposing chamber 12 to bias the power piston B forwardly or inwardly and drive the displacement'member D into `the hydraulic cylinder E.

Reaction or feel is -provided against the control member G to bias the control member G toward its Vdeenergized or retracted position with a Yforce generally proportional to that being delivered by the displacement member D 'to thereby appraise the operator of the amount of force Ybeing delivered by the servomotor. The center portion ofthe diaphragm Z8 is stiffened by front and rear plates 76 and74 respectively, and the `radially inner edge of the front annular plate 76 is bent rearwardly around the `rear annular plate 74 to provide a sliding sealing fit-with the inner Iend of the movable control member G. Rearward movement of the diaphragm lstructure 28 is limited by a rubber coated annular washer 80 positioned against .the shoulder 82 provided by the inner reduced diameter section 7S; and a delay reaction coil spring 84 biases .the diaphragm .28 forwardly away from the washer 80 yinto abutment with the inner end of the reaction chamber22. A control member return spring 86 is positioned between the inner end of the movable control member G and'the inner `end wall of the reaction chamber 22 to provide an initial force which biases the movable control member G into its retracted position when no pressure differential exists across the diaphragm 2S. Atmospheric pressure 'is Vcontinually supplied to the forward opposing reaction chamber 24 by a suitable passageway SS such that the same pressure Ydiierential being delivered across the power piston B will be experienced across the reaction diaphragm 28, but in a reverse Adirection to oppose the control movement of the control member G.

.As `previously explained, the servomotor is of the atmospheric submerged type in which atmospheric pressure is .communicated to both of the opposing chambers 12 and 14 Yrespectively when the servomotor is deenergized. @poration of the servomotor structure so far described is initiated by the depressing of the foot pedal lever J whereupon the push rod H forces the movable control member ,G -forwardly within the sleeve 32 causing the land portion 42 to be moved forwardly of the rear edge of the control port 34, and thereby communicate vacuum with the inner opposing chamber 12 .of the servomotor. Forwardmovem'ent of the control member G, causes a pressure ldifferential to be provided across the power piston B `which biases the displacement member D into the hydraulic cylinder E. Fluid displaced from the hydraulic cylinder YE is 4conducted to the brake applying wheel cylinders 99 (only one of which is shown) of the vehicle -to produce a braking application whose intensity is directly proportional to the force delivered upon the fluid displacement member D. Vacuum communication between the rear annular recess 40 and the control port 34 will continue .until such time as the pressure differential across the reaction diaphragm 2S is suicient to produce a force which overcomes the delayed .reaction coil spring 84 to bias the diaphragm 28 into engagement with the rubber coated washer 80. When the-pressure differential across the diaphragm produces a force which substantially equals that being applied by the operator upon the foot pedal lever J, diaphragm 28 will move the control member G rearwardly to cause the land portion 42 -to close oit or isolate the control port 34 from both of the recesses 38 andn-thereby preventing further pressure change within the rear opposing reaction chamber 28 and the forward opposing chamber 12,. The position of the power piston B within the power cylinder C, at this time, will be determined by the amount of iluid which was displaced from the hydraulic cylinder E in order that the pressure force upon the displacement member D exactly equals that being applied thereto by the servomotor.

When it is desired to reduce the braking effort being developed by the servomotor, the foot pedal lever I may be retracted to .cause the land portion 42 to be moved rearwardly sutliciently to permit atmospheric communication between the forward annular recess 38 and the control port Sii-thereby decreasing the pressure differential across the diaphragm 3S and Athe power piston B. vThis reduction in pressure will continue until such time as the pressure differential across the diaphragm 38 no longer exceeds the force being held against the control member G by the foot of the operator; whereupon the piston wil-l move rearwardly relative to the control member Suthciently to :cause the land portion 42 to close oit the control port 34. A complete removal of applying effort upon the foot pedal 'lever .t will, of course, permit the coil spring '72 to move the control member G into engagement with the nonmetallic washer 64 to permit full atmospheric pressure to kbe delivered to the inner opposing chamber 12. Complete release of pressure diierential across the power piston B thereby permits the coil spring 72 to move the power piston B into its retracted position wherein the abutment washer 6! is in engagement with the rear cover plate 5S as shown in the drawing. It should also be stated, that upon power failure, actuation of the Afoot pedal lever I will move the control member G inwardly against the inner wall of the reaction chamber 22 to permit the luid displacement member D to -be forced forwardly by the manual effort applied 'directly against the control member G.

The servomotor'structure shown in the drawing is cornpleted by control means K which actuates or biases the control member G forwardly with a generally predetermined force to cause the servomotor to be energized to a predetermined level, such that a generally predetermined hydraulic pressure will be developed in the hydraulic cylinder E and the brakes .of the vehicle will be applied by that effort. The control means K, shown, comprises a solenoid whose Vcoil is mounted directly upon the power piston D in such manner that its armature 94 will be biased rearwardly when its coil 96 is energized. The forward end of the armature 94 is provided with a stop 98 which abuts the forward end of the coil 96 to limit the amount of rearward movement of the 'armature 94, and the rear end of the armature 94 is connected to one end of a compression leaf spring 100. The other end of the compression spring bears against one end of a lever 102 which is pinned at its center to a bifurcated projection 164 on the boss 3i), and the other end of the lever bears against vthe rearwardly positioned end o'f the control member G to cause the control member G to be biased forwardly when the coil 96 is energized. It will therefore -be 'seen that energization of the coil 96 will cause a generally predetermined actuating force to be delivered to the control member G-which force, of course, will be opposed by the reaction diaphragm 28 to cause a generally predetermined pressure differential to be delivered across the power piston B, and a generally predetermined force to thereby be delivered to the displacement member D.

As previously indicated the servomotor A shown in the drawing is adapted to be used to actuate the hydraulic braking system of an automotive vehicle in such manner as to apply the brakes of the vehicle applied when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a generally predetermined rate. Such systems are commonly called no creep systems and are designed to permit the operator to hold the brakes applied between the time that the operators foot is removed from the brake pedal lever and is applied to the accelerator pedal. A governor switch 106 is provided in the electrical supply circuit for the coil 96, which switch is closed at speeds below approximately miles per hour, and is open at speeds above approximately 5 miles per hour. The electrical supply circuit for the coil 96 also includes a normally closed switch 19S, which switch is adapted to be opened whenever the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is moved out of its retracted position. The electrical supply circuit will also include the vehicles battery 110, the connecting wire 112 leading to the coil 96, and the connecting wire 114 which grounds the other end of the coil 96 to the rear cover plate 9S of the servomotor.

The control means K is brought into operation or is adapted to actuate the servomotor A whenever the automotive vehicle is traveling at a speed below approximately 5 miles per hour and the accelerator pedal is in its retracted position. At such a time both the contacts of the governor switch 196 and the contacts of the throttle controlled switch 108 will be closed. The resulting energization of the coil 96 will bias the armature 94 rearwardly until the stop 9S moves into engagement with the end of the coil 96 so as to deform the compression spring 100 by a generally predetermined amount, and thereby deliver a generally predetermined force upon one end of the lever 102. This force will be delivered through the lever 102 to the movable control member G, biasing it forwardly suciently to cause the land 42 to move past the rear edge of the control port 34, and thereby cornmunicate vacuum with the rear opposing reaction chamber 26 and the forward opposing chamber 12 of the servomotor. Vacuum continued to How to each of these chambers until such time as suicient differential pressure is developed across the reaction diaphragm 28 to oppose the force being delivered against the movable control member G by the compression spring 100; whereupon, the control member G will be moved rearwardly causing the land portion 42 to close off the control port 34. Further vacuum communication to the outer opposing reaction chamber 26 and inner opposing chamber 12 will thereafter be prevented and the displacement member D will be held applied by a generally predetermined force. This, of course, will produce a braking application of generally predetermined intensity.

When it is desired to get the vehicle under way again, a depressing of the accelerator pedal will open the switch 16S to deenergize the coil 96-thereby disabling the control means K. At speeds above approximately 5 miles per hour, the governor switch 106 will always be open; so that the accelerator pedal may be released, and the switch 108 closed without resulting in a dragging of the brakes.

While the present invention has been described as embodied in a fluid pressure servomotor for actuating the brakes of an automotive vehicle, it is not so limited; and it is intended that the spirit of the invention may be embodied in still other types of servomotors. While the control means K has been described as being actuated upon an energization of the coil 96, the invention is not so limited; inasmuch as the armature could be actuated by means of a spring whose force would be held olf at speeds above approximately 5 miles per hour by means of the energization of the coil 9o. Under such conditions, of course, the governor switch 106 would be a normally open one which becomes closed at speeds above approximately 5 miles per hour, and the switch 168 would be a normally open switch which would be closed when the accelerator pedal was moved out of its released or retracted position.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and it is my intention to cover hereby all novel, adaptations, modifications, and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. A servomotor comprising: a support, a power actuated member mounted in said support, control means carried by said power actuated member and having a control element which when moved in one direction causes said power actuated member to move a first direction, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control element by an amount generally proportional to the delivered force of said power actuated member rst means for normally moving said control member in said one direction and a solenoid carried by said power actuated member including an armature operatively connected to actuate said control element and whereby an override of said irst means is accomplished by said solenoid.

2. A servomotor comprising: a support, a power actuated member mounted in said support, control means carried by said power actuated member and having a control element which when moved in one direction causes said power actuated member to move in a rst direction, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control element by an amount generally proportional to the delivered force of said power actuated member, a solenoid carried by said power actuated member including an armature, and an operative connection between said armature and said control element, said operative connection including a spring and means for limiting the degree of movement which can be applied to said spring by said armature to thereby limit the degree of actuation of said servomotor which said solenoid can produce.

3. A servomotor comprising: a support, a power actuated member mounted in said support, control means carried by said power actuated member and having a control element which when moved in an actuating direction causes said power actuated member to move in a rst direction, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control element by an amount generally proportional to the delivered force of said power actuated member, a solenoid carried by said power actuated member including an armature, means including a spring for transmitting actuating movement of said armature to bias said control element in its actuating direction, and means limiting the actuating movement of said armature, whereby a predetermined degree of power actuation of said servomotor is accomplished by said solenoid.

4. A fluid pressure servomotor comprising: a support, a pressure responsive movable wall mounted in said support, control valve means carried by said pressure responsive movable wall and having a control element which when moved in an actuating direction causes said movable wall to move in a first direction, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control element by an amount generally proportional to the delivered force of said movable wall, a solenoid carried by said movable wall including an armature, means including a spring for transmitting actuating movement of said armature to bias said control element in its actuating direction, and means limiting the actuating movement of said armature,

apaiser .i .whereby a predetermined degree of power actuation vof said servomotor isaccompiished Lby .said solenoid.

5. YIn a uid .pressure servomotor for actuating a 'driven device: a pressureresponsive member for actuating said driven device when pressure differential is applied across said member in a given direction, valve means mounted on said pressure responsive member and having a control member which when actuated in said .given direction supplies a pressure diferentialacross said pressure responsive member in said given direction, reaction means .constructed and arranged to deliver a reaction against said `Contr-olmernber which opposes its actuation with a force .generally proportional to the force delivered to said driven device by said servomotor, a solenoid mounted on vsaid 4pressure responsive member in a manner generally parallel ywith respect to said control member and having an armature therein which is moved a generally predetermined distance in the opposite direction to the control members actuating movement upon energization of said solenoid, a lever pivoted at its midpoint to said pressure responsive member and having opposite ends which are 4operativeiy connected to said control member and said 'armature,tand a compression spring in the operative connection between said lever and said armature, said spring being adapted to supply a predetermined actuating force to said lever when said solenoid is energized, whereby energization of said solenoid causes a predetermined .actuating force to be applied to said control member and a generally predetermined force delivered to the ldriven .device by said servomotor.

6. A iiuid pressure servomotor comprising: a housing .having a power chamber therein, a movable Wall in said chamber and which is moved toward one end of said vchamber by diierential pressure, a control valve carried by said movable Wall, said control valve having a control member which when actuated toward said one end causes said movable wall to move toward said one end, means for normally actuating said control member, an armaturetmounted `onsaidtmovable Wall which when actuated also moves said control member toward said one end, and electrical means `carried by said movable Wall for actuating said armature.

7. .A uid pressure servomotor comprising: a housing having a power chamber therein, a movable wall in said chamber and which is moved toward one eud of said chamber by differential pressure, a control valve carried by said movable wall, said control valve having a control member which when actuated toward said one end causes said movable Wall to move toward said one end, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control member, means for normally actuating said control member, an armature mounted on said movable vWall and which when actuated also actuates said control member toward said one end, and electrical means carried by said movable wall for actuating said armature.

8. A uid pressure servomotor comprising: a housing having a power chamber therein, a movable Wall in said Chamber vand which is moved toward one end of said chamber by diiferential pressure, a control Valve carried by said movable viali, said control valve having a control member which when actuated toward said one end causes said movable wall to move toward-said one end, reaction means opposing actuating movement of said control member, means for `normaliy actuating said control member, spring means for biasing said control member toward said one end, an armature mounted on said movable wall and which when actuated causes said spring to lbias said control member toward said one end, and electrical means carried by said movable wall for actuating said armature.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

